Suicide - Let’s Not Go There
Exodus 20:13-13
When I was asked to speak on this topic I found very little in the way of resources in the Christian realm. It is a topic that not many talk about. We don’t want to go there. It is a dark subject and few wish to talk about such things. There are numerous places in the Scripture where folks took their own life. Saul and Judas are only two examples. The Philippian jailer was almost a suicide before Paul stopped him. Some committed suicide by committing sins unto death like Ananias and Sapphira or by tempting God to the point where He struck them dead like Aaron’s two sons who offered up strange fire unto the Lord. Some died because they would not seek God for healing like Asa. He should have known better and since he refused to seek the cure he died like those who refused to look at the brazen serpent Moses lifted up. Those who refuse Christ or fail to seek Him and die in their sins commit spiritual suicide.
I John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (KJV)
While instances of suicide are given in the Scripture the exact term is not used and no specific injunction is given. Therefore we must apply various principles to determine God’s view of suicide.
Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. (KJV)
7523 ratsach (raw-tsakh’); a primitive root; properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being),especially to murder:
KJV-- put to death, kill, (man-) slay (-er), murder (-er).
One who commits suicide commits self-murder and thus is in direct violation of the sixth commandment.
Deut 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. (KJV)
It is God that gives life and it is He that is to take it away except in the case where He delegates the right into the hands of the government to perform capital punishment for various crimes. Interestingly, there are some countries that make attempted suicide a capital offense. I guess they figure it is better to grant you your wish than to spend time reviving you several times should you blotch the job or change your mind. I would like to see the suicide rate figures there. It might actually be a fairly good deterrent. You would have to be really sure you want to die to even try it there.
Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (KJV)
Suicide is a violation of the second commandment. Self-murder is not an act of self-love. It is an act of selfishness since it does not take into consideration the effect on those around you especially those who love you. That is not an example of loving your neighbor.
Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he, which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. KJV)
It is not an end to everything nor is it an escape from God because He will be there to greet you. Depending on your spiritual condition He might be your Judge and your troubles have only begun. He might be your Savior and you will have deep regrets when He reveals all He would have done for you and through you had you turned to Him to provide the way of escape from the temptation. Does suicide guarantee you a ticket straight to Hell with no layovers? The Roman Catholics see it as a mortal sin and a basically an unpardonable sin. Those of who were with me when we did the study on the unpardonable sin know that the only sin that cannot be pardoned is to die blaspheming the Spirit by rejecting His ministry of reconciliation thus dying without Christ’s righteousness being applied to your account through the blood of the Cross.
Those who hold to an Arminian viewpoint that says you can lose your salvation would see it as a sin unconfessed and thus causing you to lose your salvation therefore placing you out of grace and into Hell fire. It is conceivable that you could repent of the act, as you are dying, but not able to obtain help to prevent you from dying and thus maintain your salvation. We may one day do a study on the security of the believer and we will see that this position is untenable in that we either attain salvation or probation from Christ. We cannot receive both.
For this study, suffice it to say that the following passage states that we are free from the law of sin and death. Christ died for every sin of the World from the first to the last and all between. When we were crucified with Him all are sins were paid for by His blood. Confession after that restores fellowship not relationship. If we sin we do not need do sacrifice to live because He has made the perfect sacrifice.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (KJV)
Q. So a believer that commits suicide would still go to Heaven?
A. Yes, once adopted we are always a child that cannot be disinherited like a genetic child. The term (huiothesia) in Gal 4:5 is a legal term. You could never cut off or deny a child you adopted in the law of Paul’s times. This is wonderful assurance to us the adopted children of God.
Q. How could a child of God do this?
A. We are subject to all the same temptations as lost people (I Cor 10:13).
Q. How could a child of God commit any sin?
A. I John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."(KJV)
(Rom 7) We still have our sin nature which is why we still need I John 1:9. Samson as a prisoner of the Philistines asked God to strengthen him one more time that he might avenge himself of being blinded by them. He appears to have committed suicide, but it was actually an act of war because he took a lot of Philistines with him. God gave him the strength to break down the pillars causing him to die with the enemy. (Judges 16:21-31) I believe that God used this to bring Samson home. Samson was in that position because of sin. His capture caused the Philistines to blaspheme God and praise their false idol. God allowed Samson to be used to destroy the Philistines for their blasphemy. Therefore I believe that he died as a result of his sin and it was not what we would call a suicide. We know that Samson was saved because he is mentioned in the Hall of Faith (Heb 11:32).While Samson’s death was not honorable and self-inflicted there are times when a man can cause his own death honorably. In war, there have been men who threw themselves on grenades or stayed behind to hold off the enemy while his compatriots escaped though he knew there would be no escape for him. There have been saints that have died since the early days of Rome hiding brethren from the Romans, later from the Inquisitors and hiding Jews in WWII. These folks while they killed themselves deliberately or by placing themselves in harm’s way best exhibit what Jesus meant when He said, John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. (KJV)
We would call these folks heroes and rightly so! These folks died with valor and honor. Sadly, the normal suicide is not so. They are folks that have given up. They have lost hope. They may have many specific reasons, but they all come back to the root of no hope. All the offered solutions for man’s problems by the secular world have failed and are failing. We have as many or more reasons to fear the turn of the century as we have to have hope. We are finishing up one of the bloodiest centuries in history. Racism and other hates are as strong as ever despite all our efforts to erase them from our vocabulary and practice. Poverty is worse than ever though we have greater technology to raise the standard of living for man than any other time in history. Nuclear war is still as great a threat as during the Cold War. All that has changed is the names of the countries that might start it. The War of the Sexes is worse than ever as relationships die quicker than they can be established. Since some say there are no absolutes, we have fewer answers and no guidance for our raison d’etre. High tech ape-gods that make rules as they go by whim or circumstance cannot create the stability they so innately desire and need. It was safer for the common populace in the days of the Old West than it is today.
Yes, unbelievers have many reasons to want to check out and call it quits. Fortunately, I can look at the same circumstances and say that I know the final outcome and there is great reason for hope and opportunity in the days ahead. I believe in Christ. I have read the back of the Book and know who wins. I know that He is present in this world and still sits on the throne despite who has the political seat of power. I know that He has saved me and is more involved in my life than my pea brain can comprehend and even when I mess it up so bad that I burn my life to ashes he can make beauty out of the ashes!
Does that mean that I am always giddy and thrilled? No, I have my share of problems. Am I never depressed? No, I have bouts of anxiety and depression when I take my eyes off Him and look inward or to other men. It does mean that I have the answers and great resources both within and without that I can avail myself to when I face the temptations common to man. Everything I need is there. I just have to use it.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV)
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that worketh in us, (KJV)
Almost every Christian would read those verses and shout, "Amen". However, putting them into practice is another issue. Mental assent and good theological interpretation is a start, but unless you make practical application of the Word you will not profit. As is taught in the Stable and Free Eternally (S.A.F.E.) program our subconscious mind has been filled with junk and lies since our birth. We must replace the lies with truth and deal with guilt, bitterness and anger or we will have shipwrecked lives.
From a spiritual realm, depression, guilt without reason and unexplained anger or irritability may come from demonic oppression and should be dealt with biblically. Real guilt and sin must also be handled biblically. You should seek counsel from your pastor.
Also, we need to look at physical causes for our depression. A person feeling tired all the time lacking interest or drive should see a medical doctor and get a complete physical. You may have an ailment that can be treated short or long term with medication. There may also come a time when you and your pastor may determine that your should seek help from a Christian counselor trained to deal with issues that relate to your particular need. Sometimes a believer is simply too embarrassed or afraid to talk to their pastor and a counselor is easier to open up to so that the root of the problem can reached and the person cured. I cannot in good conscience refer a Christian to a secular therapist. Care must also be taken to be sure that the Christian counselor is not just taking secular theories and trying to cut and paste Scripture into that humanistic bankrupt system. I believe that Church has sacrificed too long at that altar. It is time to take back the authority and power that we have relinquished.
The bottom line is that there is always hope even when we do not feel it or see it. We have too many blind spots and we need the help of friends, family, pastor and counselors. Do not cut yourself off from them. Child of God, look up to your Father and let your Brethren hug you and help you in the time of need. We are family. O Father in Heaven, don’t let us forget it! May we run to the Cross and to the Throne, but suicide let’s not go there!
